'The Player': The best show you haven't discovered ... yet

There’s something that’s been grinding my gears for a little while now, and I can’t keep quiet about it anymore. NBC’s The Player is one of the best shows I’ve seen in years—and I can’t believe more people haven’t discovered it yet.

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The list of things to love about this show is tremendous. Let’s start at the top, with Philip Winchester as security expert turned ultimate game player Alex Kane. This is your leading man right here. He’s got the guts and the physical aptitude to go crashing through windows and getting into brawls, and it’s fun as hell to watch him do it. Yet more than that, he’s already imbued Alex with so much personality and so much depth. We’ve really been privy to not only his pain at the loss of his ex-wife, but how he thinks and what kind of a man he is because of the smarts and subtleties with which Winchester is playing him. Then, in the next scene, we can laugh at his wisecrack and want to have a beer with him. Having had the privilege of working with him for the last few years just makes me even more sure that he’s doing some of his best work.

But the talent doesn’t stop there. We all expected Wesley Snipes to be fantastic as Mr. Johnson, and that’s exactly what he has been; you totally believe that he can just strong-arm people, both figuratively and literally. After the great work he did on The Divide, it’s been a pleasure to see Damon Gupton back in action as Detective Cal Brown, making an excellent counter to Alex (even if Cal probably has a permanent headache trying to deal with his best friend’s drama). The real surprise has been Charity Wakefield as Cassandra, who has taken her enigmatic character and run with her. Then there are the guest stars: Carlo Rota, Eric Roberts, Nick Wechsler … and then Will Yun Lee turns up this week. It’s fun just to see who’s going to appear on the show next.

Here’s the part that a lot of people have probably missed: The Player is such a brilliant show because it really has created its own game. Not that we’re running around gambling on crime, but creators John Rogers and John Fox and their great writing staff have put together episodes that drop the audience into Alex’s world. Just as he’s trying to figure out what’s going on, so are we—and it’s a joy to pick up the clues. Every character plays off every other, unlike other shows where characters stick only to their groups or storylines. Almost every episode has given us at least one thing to think about when it comes to what the House is, how they operate, or just who these people are. If you’re willing to invest the energy, there’s a whole adventure that opens up to you.

Some people have said the premise is confusing or ridiculous; it’s not, really. At its heart, it’s the story of an organization that enlists a guy to fight crime, except that they’re doing it for profit. MacGyver had the Phoenix Foundation and Michael Knight had FLAG; Alex Kane has the House. And like those great ’80s action shows, The Player has some fantastic stuff packed into it. Cars blow up, bullets go flying, people brawl in midair, and there might be a rocket launcher. It’s as thrilling as has ever been seen on network TV.

Which brings me to the final and fundamental reason why I’m so passionate about this show, and why I hope that you will be too. It’s the great acting. The strong writing and jaw-dropping stunts wouldn’t be possible if there wasn’t a talented and equally devoted cast and crew making them happen. Every aspect shows that the people who work on The Player don’t just want to do a good job, but that they love their jobs. Whether it’s a fantastic camera shot from a director like Michael J. Bassett, or a wonderfully choreographed fight sequence, or just that one line that is perfectly delivered, there’s a sense of fun that runs through this show like a live wire.

For all the things we can overthink about television, it’s a true breath of fresh air to have a series where the goal is just to have the best time possible. On The Player, being smart and being fun aren’t mutually exclusive. It’s a quality program, but it’s also one that has a burst of adrenaline and such a good heart. There’s an intangible feeling that doesn’t just make you excited about TV; it makes you excited about life. Watching this show every Thursday leaves me with a smile on my face, and wishing that I could’ve been a part of it. If you haven’t discovered it yet, do yourself a favor and get on board—this series will remind you why we all fell in love with TV in the first place.

Expression Of JoyThe Brady Bunch: Groovy! The Bradys: Ritual hugging Married…With Children: ”Oh, great.” Thirtysomething: ”Of course I’m happy for you. Really. But what about me? Why does it always have to be about you? The Flintstones: ”Yabba-dabba doo

Expression Of Rage

The Brady Bunch: ”Hmmm…” The Bradys: ”If you back away from something you really want, then you’re a quitter!” (the angriest any Brady has ever been) Married…With Children: ”Aaagh, God, take me from this miserable life!” Thirtysomething: ”I’m not angry, OK?” The Flintstones: ”Willllmaaaa!”

Typical ProblemThe Brady Bunch: Marcia and her rival both want to be the prom queen. The Bradys: Bobby gets paralyzed. Married…With Children: Al doesn’t buy his family Christmas presents. Thirtysomething: Nancy gets cancer. The Flintstones: Fred and Barney are staying out too late.

Typical SolutionThe Brady Bunch: The prom committee decides to have two queens. The Bradys: Bobby gets married. Married…With Children: They hate him. Thirtysomething: If only we knew… The Flintstones: Wilma and Betty decide to follow them.

Attitude Toward SexThe Brady Bunch: Never heard of it The Bradys: Omigod — even Cindy does it! Married…With Children: Peg: Yes. Al: No. Thirtysomething: They didn’t get all those kids by accident. The Flintstones: Prehistoric

How Spouses FightThe Brady Bunch: They don’t. The Bradys: Infrequently, but it happens Married…With Children: Tooth and nail Thirtysomething: They stop talking The Flintstones: Fred and Barney go bowling while Wilma and Betty max out their charge cards.

How Kids Get Into TroubleThe Brady Bunch: Greg takes a puff of a cigarette. The Bradys: Carol’s grandson steals her business cards and sticks them in the spokes of Bobby’s wheelchair. Married…With Children: By committing felonies Thirtysomething: Ethan plays with a forbidden toy rocket. The Flintstones: They don’t.

How They’re Punished

The Brady Bunch: ”It’s not what you did, honey — it’s that you couldn’t come to us.” The Bradys ”Next time, ask.” Married…With Children: By the authorities Thirtysomething: It blows up in his face. The Flintstones: They’re not.

What Family Does For FunThe Brady Bunch: Takes special three-part vacations to Hawaii and the Grand Canyon The Bradys: Has flashbacks Married…With Children: Exchanges insults Thirtysomething: Talks The Flintstones: Attends showings of The Monster at the Bedrock Drive-In

Unsolved MysteriesThe Brady Bunch: How exactly did Carol’s first husband and Mike’s first wife die? The Bradys: What’s with Marcia’s new face and Bobby’s blonde hair Married…With Children: What kind of hair spray does Peg use? Thirtysomething: Why did Nancy take Elliot back? What do Gary and Susanna see in each other? The Flintstones: How does Barney’s shirt stay on if he has no shoulders? Where do Fred and Wilma plug in their TV?

Worst BehaviorThe Brady Bunch: The Brady children once made Alice feel under-appreciated.

Best Reason To WatchThe Brady Bunch: This is what life should be. The Bradys: They’re all grown-ups now! Married…With Children: Terry Rakolta hates it. Thirtysomething (Tie) This is your life. This isn’t your life. The Flintstones: This is what life might have been.

Best Reason Not To WatchThe Brady Bunch: Blurred vision from rerun overdoses. The Bradys: You’re all grown-ups now. Married…With Children: She has a point. Thirtysomething: After a while, you think it’s real. The Flintstones: The Simpsons